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It's another to add quality free agents from within your division — making yourself a little better and a team you'll face (at least) twice a year a little worse.

The Broncos plucked two significant contributors from the roster of the San Diego Chargers: Offensive guard Louis Vasquez and linebacker-turned-defensive end Shaun Phillips.

Vasquez has played all 1,387 offensive snaps for the Broncos without allowing a single sack, according to Pro Football Focus' tabulations. Phillips leads the Broncos with 12 sacks despite playing a new position.

It's impossible to say whether the Broncos would be here without Vasquez and Phillips. But we know this: Denver had to go through San Diego to reach Super Bowl XLVIII.

No opponent gave the Broncos a tougher time this season. The Chargers were the only team to beat them in Denver. The Broncos got them back in the divisional playoffs.

Phillips had two sacks that day. He made a crucial tackle on a 2-point conversion attempt against New England in the AFC Championship Game.

And to think, Phillips could have been a Texan. Or a Raider.

SHAUN AS IN GONE

Phillips played nine seasons with the Chargers and had the second-most sacks in franchise history. But the Chargers planned to start Jarret Johnson and Melvin Ingram at outside linebacker. If he returned, Phillips would be a backup making backup money.

He had three main suitors in free agency: Denver, Houston and Oakland.

“Oakland offered me the most money, but it's tough to go to a place like Oakland after you played in San Diego for so long,” Phillips said. “You just hear all the horror stories up there.”

That narrowed it to the Broncos and Texans, who were considered co-favorites in the AFC entering the season. Phillips obviously chose wisely; Houston finished a ghastly 2-14 and has the first pick in the upcoming draft.

The Broncos probably wouldn't have been interested if not for the fax fiasco that forced them to release Elvis Dumervil, who had double-digit sacks in three of his six seasons in Denver.

“They wouldn't need me if Elvis was here,” Phillips said. “His path took him to Baltimore. And my path took me here.”

The chance to play for a Super Bowl contender provided obvious motivation. So did the way Phillips' relationship ended with the Chargers. He felt unwanted.

“For them to ask me to come back as a backup was almost a slap in the face,” Phillips said. “That was my motivation for this year, every game. Even more, when we played them.”

Phillips still had to adjust to playing in a three-point stance after being a stand-up linebacker his entire pro career. He felt uncertain at first about the new techniques he had to learn. It wasn't until training camp that his anxiety started to ease.

“When he first came to Denver, he was trying to figure out where he fit in the plan,” Broncos defensive line coach Jay Rodgers said. “Is he a Sam linebacker? Is he a defensive end?

“As we progressed, and he learned how we do things, he just kept on getting better and better and better.”

FAMILIAR FACE

Vazquez's transition was considerably smoother. One of his new linemates was a man he considers his “brother,” Manny Ramirez.

The two had played together at Texas Tech, where they were roommates during summer workouts before the younger Vasquez's freshman year. Both are Mexican-American. Even their mothers became good friends.

“How many times do you get the opportunity to play with your own brother?” Ramirez said he wondered this week.

Twice, it turns out.

Ramirez's presence was a nice bonus, but the signing bonus the Broncos offered was even nicer. On the first day of free agency they signed Vasquez to a four-year deal worth a reported $23.5 million, with $13 million guaranteed the first two seasons.

The Chargers wanted Vasquez back, but he made what he described as a “business decision” after consulting with former teammates Kris Dielman, Nick Hardwick and Philip Rivers.

“They said do what's best for you,” Vasquez said. “Unfortunately, I had to leave my friends from back there. But the reason we play this game is to be here where we're at, to have the chance to win the Super Bowl.”

Vasquez is considered “the playful one” among Denver's offensive linemen, according to tackle Chris Clark. But Vasquez quickly learned the Broncos' demanding system and became a steadying influence on a line that often was in flux. He ranked third overall among guards per PFF's metrics, second in pass blocking.

“With ‘18' standing back there,” offensive line coach Dave Magazu said, referring to Peyton Manning, “you want to surround him with guys who can protect the passer. He's just as good a run blocker.”

Magazu credited the Broncos' scouting department for targeting Vasquez. Magazu did his own scouting by consulting Denver's defensive coaches and players.

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